Not really what I was looking for....

Dr. Google has produced many images of fertilization for me when searching on Google Images. I would just like to share a few results that come up that are not really related to creation of a human. My fault for not being more specific.....

I'm pretty happy we haven't had to use this contraption yet!

Again, I'm glad the NP hasn't rolled this into the exam room just yet!

Now I know how turtles make babies...

Trees do it with bottles to get babies...

Oceans rely on power generators somehow....

Well, I'm pretty sure I didn't get any smarter with this adventure but I do feel better in knowing that we are not too strange in how we are trying to make a baby! I found this and am hoping that we are closer to this reality than the above pictures. If nothing else this has helped in passing some of the TWW. This is 4dpo.

Taming the Obsession

What day do you all think we should we test?

1dpo: I hope this already happened.

TWW

Finally - we are in the TWW!! IUI #2 down, and our NP was reasonably sure that I ovulated since yesterday, so that's good. I kind of thought I was ovulating this morning, but either way... the timing is good.

My biggest concern is that the next two weeks are going to be gruelingly slow, AND I'm going to interpret absolutely everything as a possible sign. Luckily, E's dad will be in town this weekend - that will be a good time, and good to take our mind off of things too.

IUI #1 down!

We did an at-home (ICI) last night, just to make sure we'd catch the window if I was ovulating yesterday afternoon at all (probably wasn't, but....) Today, we had the IUI. It went well enough - our Dr. always talks about how my cervix doesn't like to play nice like other cervices (?) do... so, I always have a bit more pinching than would otherwise be the case. Alas - it's all worth it if we end up with a baby to love. Interestingly, though, she thought that my cervix may have hindered other IUI's from working (something about the catheter's path...)

So, we feel like this one is our lucky cycle.

• Stubborn Ovaries forced into producing follicles (2 of them!!) - CHECK
• E2 levels high enough to indicate good follicles - CHECK
• HcG shot perfectly timed w/ IUI's -CHECK
• Stubborn Cervix forced into facilitating swimming path - CHECK! CHECK!

Luckily, our chances of getting pregnant are now a whopping 25%!!! E and I are feeling good about this one - we know we have a viable shot, which is something that hasn't happened enough to this point.

We truly appreciate the comments and emails! Thank you to everyone supporting us and sending us good thoughts and wishes - we need them, and we cannot thank you enough.

Green Light

WE GOT THE GREEN LIGHT TODAY! S's SOs decided to show their little faces and their follicles! There are two follies, one at 18mm in the left ovary and one on the right at 20mm. Her E2 came back at 460!!! This means that there is at least one follicle that is mature and producing the right amount of estrogen to be viable. Our NP looks for 300 E2 for each follicle over 18mm but we have heard some say that 200 is the number their doctors look for. Needless to say we are excited that they both might be mature and ready to go but are pleased with one!

I got a quick tutorial on how to give an intramuscular shot while at the doctor's office. We have decided to do the hCG at home this time versus at the doctor's office. This will allow us the opportunity to have a better-timed insemination than before. We go in tomorrow morning at 10 am for the first insemination so I will likely be shooting S up tonight around 9 or 10 pm (probably 10 because I have a conference call tonight that will likely go until around 10). We will also pick up one of the ICI sperm vials tomorrow at the doctor’s office around 5 pm and do an at home insemination (we have them anyway). On Wed. we will do another in office insemination at 9 am.

Here is the breakdown:

4/2: 10 pm hCG shot to force ovulation (should happen within 24 hours of the shot).
4/3: 10 am in office IUI insemination
- 12 hours after the hCG
4/3: 5 pm at home ICI insemination
- 18 hours after the hCG
4/4: 9 am in office IUI insemination
- 35 hours after the hCG

How does this regimen look to you all? We think this covers a pretty good amount of our window. Input?

On another note, Gladys woke me up at 3 am (very strange for her) needing to go outside. Since it was strange I walked out with her. She immediately did #2 with no doggy magic poop dance, then #1, then puked. I came back in as she was still wandering the backyard to find two piles of puke (food and sticks) in the dining room. I cleaned it up and G came back in. Acting a bit strange but ok. She got up a few minutes later and puked in the dining room again. This time we decided to let the clean up wait till the morning. Well, the little lady left us 6 piles of bloody puke on our brand new carpet. She is doing better now but has to be closely watched. Looks like she probably ruptured blood vessels in her stomach from puking, sounds like a long night of drinking is the same as a long day of eating sticks!

Well, we are really really excited about the coming days and then looking for the TTW to go fast. My dad will be here for the Easter weekend so that should help some of the time go by quickly.


Come on swimmers, Easter is the time for egg hunts!!!!!!!

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Edited at 3:46 by Erin

S just called me and swears she have movement on the left side. We are going to add an ICI to the schedule for tonight. Why not throw everything we have in our arsenal at this one? The rest of our protocol is staying the same.

Side Effects?

Anyone who has been on follistim, or any other injectibles: what side effects did you experience? I had been a bit tired, but today experienced nausea and endless waterworks... Is it me or the drugs? Anyone? anyone?

Thanks for the info!!